Brachycephalic breeds are getting more and more popularity these days and you probably think they are cute too. These breeds include the Pekinese, Pug, French Bulldog, Shih Tzu, Boston Terrier and more. It is important for people and future owners to know that behind that cute and irresistible look, these dogs have quite few health problems.

The reason for the health problems

If you look closely at the anatomy of their head, you will notice they have flat face and their skull is wide. This seems like their skull has been compressed and even in some dogs the nose can be unapparent.

This confrontation can cause problems in three main systems: the respiratory system, the skin and the eyes.

The most noticeable problem for these dogs is the breathing. Have you ever noticed how a pug breathes? Or more accurate, how they fight for a breath sometimes? Have you ever heard them snoring and thought it was so adorable? Well, for them personally it isn’t. It is like you having stuck nose and having difficult time breathing.

BUAOS - Brachycephalic Upper Airway Obstructive Syndrome

The name of the respiratory disorders in brachycephalic dogs is Brachycephalic Upper Airway Obstructive Syndrome. What actually happened is that the skull and the space inside the skull got smaller, however the soft tissues, most importantly the soft palate, the tongue remained the same size. This is what causes the breathing problems in brachycephalic breeds.

Problems of the skin

You have probably noticed by now that these breeds have folded skin on their faces. These folds are the best place for yeasts and bacteria to grow and you guessed it- they cause infections and skin inflammations. The folds are formed because of the excessive skin covering the face.

Problems of the eyes

It is well known that brachycephalic breeds are more prone to eye problems than other dogs, just because of their skull anatomy. Their eyeballs protrude significantly, compared to other breeds, and this is because their eye sockets are too shallow. This results in more frequent eye traumas, dry eyes, ulcers.

Brachycephalic dogs have a very nice character and they are amazing pets; however, we can’t disregard their health and what is best for their well-being. If you are planning to become a pet owner of any of these breeds it is very important to know about their health and what owning a brachycephalic dog means. If you would like to learn more about these dogs, you can continue reading about “Problems associated with Brachycephalic Dogs”.

How Canine Hip Dysplasia May Unlock the Mysteries of Human DDH

Modern medicine is increasingly turning to pets for answers, and when it comes to understanding the poor development of hips prone to dislocation, dogs may play an important part to gaining further insight. A December 2017 study in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research positioned canine hip dysplasia (CHD) as a model to help scientists better understand developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in humans. Here's what you need to know:

What Is Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)?

Canine hip dysplasia, or CHD, is a condition where a dog's hips are improperly developed. It causes the hip to get loose and deteriorate as your dog ages. It's a hereditary condition that's common in large breed dogs, too. Dog breeds that are prone to this condition include German Shepherds, Labrador retrievers, Great Danes, Irish Setters, and St. Bernards. However, small and medium-sized dogs can experience CHD, too. External factors, such as the weight of your dog, his diet, and excessive growth, impact CHD.

How CHD Is Treated

There are a number of treatments that can help manage pain and other ailments that come along with canine hip dysplasia. For example, your pet can receive physical therapy and surgery to correct CHD. You can also use discount pet medication, including the Carprofen Caplets, offered via reputable online pet pharmacies and medication suppliers, such as Allivet.

What Is Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) in Humans and How Is It Treated?

Developmental dysplasia of the hip in humans is a condition that is most commonly identified during birth and can also develop during the first year of a person's life. It involves an improperly developed hip joint, which can lead to a dislocated, dislocatable, or loose hip. It's also linked to pain in the hip and secondary osteoarthritis or OA. It also can limit your movements.

This condition can be treated non-surgically by repositioning the thigh bone with a special harness. However, surgery is often necessary the older a DDH patient gets or if the repositioning of the thighbone is unsuccessful. While surgery has certainly improved the results of the condition over the last 10 years, scientists still lack a full understanding of the causes and effects of the condition, the diseases common behaviors, and how changes in cells' and tissues' mechanical properties and physical forces play a role in the development of DDH.

How CHD and DDH Link

Scientists believe that by studying CHD, they can find an answer to not only the specific paths of that start the degeneration of hip joints of those with DDH but also plausible alternative treatments. Links between CHD and DDH provide insight. Here are some commonalities between both diseases:

Both are hereditary and Pre-OA. Just as CHD is hereditary, DDH also is likely to run in families. Also, if CHD is not treated, it can progress into OA, similar to how untreated DDH can progress into secondary OA.

CHD and DDH approaches to treatment share similarities. The approach to treating CHD and DDH is similar. Both humans and dogs can modify their diet and movement to better manage the condition. Surgery is also an option for both dogs and humans.

Weight plays an important role. Treating DDH by managing weight is similar to the treatment of CHD. That's because extra weight adds extra pressure on the joint in the case of both dogs and people. Losing weight can help reduce this pressure and the discomfort that comes along with it.

Turning to Your Pet for Answers

Looking to your family history for answers to current conditions and diseases may not be the only option to unlocking life's mysteries of modern science. Modern science is turning to your pet. Using CHD as a model and understanding CHD it may uncover valuable insight that leads to better treatment options in DDH.

Lannie, writer for Allivet. Allivet provides affordable pet supplies and pet medications, all of which can be purchased online. Listed below are some helpful resources referenced in the article that can provide some guidance for those looking for helpful information on pet supplies & medication:

Three Debut Breeds Among 3,200 dogs of 200 Breeds and Varieties from 49 States

New York, NY - More than 3,200 dogs, including 90 Golden Retrievers, will descend on Manhattan during Westminster Week 2017. Appearing at the 141st Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, on Monday and Tuesday, February 13-14, will be 2,798 dogs and 87 junior handlers. The 4th Annual Masters Agility Championship at Westminster on Saturday, February 11 will feature 330 dogs followed by 23 dogs at the 2nd Annual Masters Obedience Championship at Westminster on Monday, February 13.

Most entered among the 200 breeds and varieties at the dog show are the Golden Retrievers (65), followed by Labrador Retrievers (46) French Bulldogs (46), Whippets (45), Yorkshire Terriers (38), and Australian Shepherds (38). These breeds are joined by three debut breeds at Westminster - the Sloughi (3), Pumi (7) and American Hairless Terrier (14). Golden Retrievers (8) are the largest obedience competition entry and the fourth most-entered breed (17) in Agility behind Border Collies (53), Shetland Sheepdogs (42) and Papillons (21).

New Yorkers entered the most dogs (260) at the dog show. But New Jersey dogs (94) top the agility competition as well as the obedience competition (4) and are the fourth most entered (188) at the dog show. The farthest dog show competitor entered hails from China.

On Saturday, February 11, the Meet & Compete event featuring the 8th AKC Meet the Breeds® and the Masters Agility Championship at Westminster will be held. This joint effort between The Westminster Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club provides an opportunity for people to interact with more than 100 breeds and learn about responsible dog ownership. New in 2017, AKC Meet the Breeds is bringing cats to the dog show.

Televised since 1948, Westminster will once again be America's most watched live broadcast of a dog show. New this year, dog lovers can tune into FS1 for live Group and Best in Show coverage Monday and Tuesday night from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden and Nat Geo WILD for selected live breed coverage Monday and Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. from Piers 92/94. For information on tickets, broadcast schedule, and live streaming video visit westminsterkennelclub.org. All Westminster Week events are presented by Purina Pro Plan.

There are 2,798 dogs from 49 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, with the most dogs from New York (260) followed by California (246), Pennsylvania (232), New Jersey (188), Florida (148), and Connecticut (121). They are joined by Junior Showmanship qualifiers (87). There are 135 foreign entries from 16 countries, topped by Canada (108), Japan (6) and Mexico (5).

There are 330 dogs entered representing 25 states with the most coming from New Jersey (94), New York (67) and Connecticut (35). The top 5 entries are Border Collies (53), Shetland Sheepdogs (42), All American Dogs (26), Papillons (21), and Golden Retrievers (17).

About The Westminster Kennel Club - The Westminster Kennel Club is America's oldest organization dedicated to the sport of purebred dogs. Established in 1877, Westminster's influence has been felt for more than a century through its famous all-breed, benched dog show held every year at New York City's Madison Square Garden. Today, America's dog show has expanded into Westminster Week which includes the Masters Agility Championship at Westminster and the Masters Obedience Championship at Westminster, both held at Piers 92/94. More than 3,000 dogs from the US and abroad makes Westminster Week like no other. Westminster. There's only one. Visit us at: www.westminsterkennelclub.orgor follow @WKCDOGS.

About Purina Pro Plan -Purina Pro Plan is proud to be the food of choice for the past ten Westminster Best in Show winners and 96 of the top 100 AKC All-Breed Champions.* Our team of over 400 scientists - including pet nutritionist, veterinarians and behaviorists - are dedicated rethinking what's possible in terms of nutrition, helping dogs be their absolute best. This means keeping them energetic and resilient and helping them maintain an ideal body condition, healthy skin and a stunning coat. And because being the best means something different for every dog, we offer more than 60 unique formulas across 4 specialized platforms. Our dry and wet formulas and snacks are exclusively sold at pet specialty retailers. For more information, visit www.proplan.com or follow @ProPlan on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. The brand is manufactured by Nestle Purina PetCare, which promotes responsible pet care, humane education, community involvement and the positive bond between people and their pets. A premiere global manufacturer of pet products, Nestle Purina PetCare is part of Swiss-based Nestle S.A., a global leader in nutrition, health and wellness.

*The handler or owner of these champions may have received Pro Plan dog food as Purina ambassadors.

About AKC Meet the Breeds® - From Akitas to Xoloitzcuintlis and everything in between, AKC Meet the Breeds® is brought to you by exclusive pet care sponsor Purina Pro Plan. The seventh annual event gives dog lovers the unique opportunity to meet and play with more than 100 different breeds in booths individually decorated to depict each breed's country of origin, historical purpose/function, and attributes as a family pet, all while learning about responsible dog ownership and which breeds may be right for them. Event sponsors include PetPartners, AKCSM Visa® Card, Motel 6, and Ameriprise. For more information, visit www.akc.org/meetthebreeds.

About the American Kennel Club - The American Kennel Club, founded in 1884, is a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. Along with its more than 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. More than 22,000 competitions for AKC-registered purebred dogs are held under AKC rules and regulations each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, herding, lure coursing, coonhound events, hunt tests, field and earthdog tests. Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Reunite and the AKC Museum of the Dog. For more information, visit www.akc.org.

AKC, American Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club seal and design, and all associated marks and logos are trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks of The American Kennel Club, Inc.

Chicago, IL – July 8, 2013 – DogBreedCartoon (http://dogbreedcartoon.com) announced today the full launch of their new Zazzle store providing an amazing selection of over 175 fun and colorful dog breed cartoon designs on well over 50,000 products.

The cute dog breed designs, ranging from the loveable Affenpinscher, to the fun and feisty Yorkshire Terrier and every breed in-between, are available on a wide range of products including iPhone and Samsung Galaxy cases,

“At DogBreedCartoon we are consummate dog lovers, and wanted to share our love of dogs in unique, fun and colorful ways so that other dog lovers all over the world could enjoy and show off their love of their favorite dog breed,” said Claude Hanhart, founder of the DogBreedCartoon.

All over the DogBreedCartoon Facebook (http://facebook.com/dogbreedcartoon) page dog lovers are voicing their love for the wide array of dog breed cartoons with “Love it!”, “Wow! Now that's service!”, “I want them all!”.

DogBreedCartoon, which provides well over 175 fun and colorful dog breed designs (ranging from the Affenpinscher to the Yorkshire Terrier and every breed in between) on 1000’s of products, was started by Claude Hanhart in early 2013. The dog breed design products (including iPhone cases, dog bowls, T-shirts, tote bags, car stickers, luggage tags and much more) are available through the DogBreedCartoon Zazzle shop (at http://zazzle.com/dogbreedcartoon ). For more information feel free to contact Claude Hanhart, founder of the DogBreedCartoon at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 312.659.5439.